Crime & Justice
US Marine arrested in Japan over killing of Okinawa woman
October 4, 2026 at 02:30 PM · Updated 12d ago
4 reports · 1 in Arabic, 3 in English · over 5 hours
AJAl Jazeera English
Japan summons US envoy as marine arrested over Okinawa murder
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BNBBC News
US Marine arrested over murder of woman in Okinawa, Japan
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TGThe Guardian
US marine arrested in Japan on suspicion of killing woman, police say
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AJAl Jazeera Arabic
اشتباه بجريمة قتل.. توقيف جندي أمريكي في اليابان وطوكيو تحتج
(opens the publisher’s site)Japanese police have arrested a US Marine on the island of Okinawa on suspicion of murdering a Japanese woman, prompting Japan to protest to Washington.
- Police arrested 20-year-old Lance Cpl Devin Jacob Ballard in Naha on suspicion of killing 39-year-old Anna Yagi at a hotel; he denied the allegations.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan lodged a protest with Washington, called the killing exceptionally brutal, and demanded full cooperation with the investigation.
- US Ambassador George Glass said he offered condolences to the victim's family and pledged cooperation with Japanese authorities.
- The incident revived local grievances in Okinawa over the presence of American military bases and troops on the island.
- Japan formally summoned US Ambassador George Glass to lodge a strong protest over the arrest.
- Police now suspect Ballard of robbing as well as murdering the victim.